With Liverpool's Fa community Shield triumph still fresh in people's memories, one could ask, what can happen this season?
At the time of writing, the Premiership season is just under a week away and already supporters of every Premiership team are by now wiping drool from their mouths at looking the prospect of some of the world's best players week in week out. Premiership teams have seen some changes. Arsenal bought Rosicky from Dortmund, while Aston Villa, shipped out David O'Leary while shipping in Martin O'Neil. Blackburn has bolstered their attacking options, by signing, South African international Benni McCarthy and Wigan's Jason Roberts. Bolton has also scoured the exchange store and has made some astute signings in Meite (Ivory Coast) from Marseille. Idan Tal from Maccabi Haifa. Sam Allardyce has made a famed coup in bringing Meite to the Reebok.
Charlton, under new boss Iain Dowie, has brought in an influx of youth and experience. The Charlton board will want Iain Dowie's side to build on the 13th place they achieved in Alan Curbishley's last season. Chelsea, as always, has made big summer signings in Shevchenko and Ballack. Mourinho has also brought in youth in Salomon Kalou
Everton have bolstered their squad by signing out-of-favour goalkeeper Tim Howard on a season long loan from Manchester United, and Andy Johnson from Crystal Palace. They have also strengthened their defence by signing Joleon Lescott from Wolves, but the hole left by Nigel Martyn's resignation will have residual effects on the whole Everton team. Fulham have strengthened and will hope to build on their 12th place conclude from last season. Fulham hope that summer signings Bullard and Quedrue will add flair and stability to their side.
Under technically brilliant Rafael Benitez, Liverpool has flourished in modern seasons. Bellamy will add pace and give Liverpool more attacking options up front, opposite target man Crouch. Pennant and Mark Gonzalez will add raw pace and skill to the wings while the defence is stocked full of talent, in Aurelio and Paletta. The loss of Hamann has been softened slightly, by the emergence of Sissoko, as a talented keeping midfielder.
Manchester City has brought in players of experience. Hamann from Liverpool, Dabo from Lazio and (a World Cup right back) Trabelsi from Ajax. There squad will be weakened with the sale of David James if Stuart Pearce fails to replace him with a good 'keeper.
Manchester United has shelled out a huge estimate for Tottenham Hotspur's Michael Carrick. Carrick is set to miss the start of the season however, as he picked up an ankle injury during the game with Porto at the Amsterdam Tournament. The emergence of Tomasz Kuszczak as a fine 'keeper convinced Alex Ferguson to pay an undisclosed estimate for the young Polish international. Ruud van Nistelrooy's departure hasn't helped Man Utd's striking options. With only Rooney, Rossi, Saha and Solskjaer the only fit or nearly fit strikers at the club (the famed irregularity is Alan Smith who was converted into a midfielder) Manchester United may find it more difficult when they don't have an established 20-goals-a-season striker.
With rookie boss Gareth Southgate in charge, Middlesbrough might be facing a relegation battle this arrival season. The summer signings of Julio Arca of Sunderland and Herold Goulan from Lyon will add to the squad that has lost the caress of Hasselbaink, and of the power of Franck Quedrue. Southgate seems to have remedied the problem that had been made by Quedrue's departure by the signing of Julio Arca for just under 2 million Gbp.
Newcastle United will be hit hard, by the long-term injury sustained by Michael Owen at the World Cup and, by Alan Shearer's retirement. Without a reliable, 20-goals-a-season out and out striker, Newcastle may find it hard to come by goals. An out-and-out striker is important for Premiership survival. Glenn Roeder may have helped ease the situation with the signing of Damien Duff from Chelsea. Pompey's boss Harry Redknapp has brought in experienced defender Sol Campbell, after he was released by Arsenal, Glen Johnson from Chelsea, on a season long loan, and David James from Manchester City for a reported 1.2 million.
Reading's debut season in the Premiership, may not be helped by the fact that they are relying on last season's team's and bringing in player's from League 1 and the Championship. other of the Promoted teams, Sheffield United, has brought in players who do have Premiership experience.
Tottenham Hotspur has strengthened their squad straight through the signings of Zokora, (an adequate exchange for Carrick), and Berbatov. Tottenham should challenge once again for a top 4 finish. Yet as all of the top 4 teams from last season have improved on their squad's, Tottenham still have a fairly young squad, that might not be able to cope with the pressures of European football as well as the domestic season.
Under Aidy Boothroyd, Watford won promotion to the Premiership. He has since strengthened his squad with the signing of Damien Francis, who has spent one or two seasons playing top-flight football. Watford will need to use his caress and potential wisely, if they are to survive. Although the y do have Marlon King up front, their defence must be vastly improved if they are to survive, and not concede goals.
West Ham flourished in their first season back in the Premiership, and their midfield coped well, with the artful Etherington and Benayoun on the wings, with Reo-Coker and Mullins in the centre. With Marlon Harewood and Dean Ashton upfront, West Harm will be guaranteed goals. Although their defence was very talented the lack of caress will tell as they embark on European football during next season.
Wigan Athletic was the surprise holder of last season as they done 10th and were finalists of the League Cup. Their defence helped them climb the Premiership ladder. The player exodus that has engulfed Wigan will have a profound supervene on the team for the arrival season, as they no longer have Jason Roberts, and the influential Jimmy Bullard, while Pascal Chimbonda's time to come is still in doubt, after he handed in a written exchange request, while in his kit on the last day of last season.
One of the reasons that Wigan didn't conclude in the top 6 was that their form at home was worse than their home form. If Wigan want to qualify for Europe they will need to be more ruthless at home.
For some the title race is over even before it started. With Liverpool, strengthening a strong side Chelsea would do well to change 1-0 wins into 4-0 or 5-0 wins. If the title does go down to goal difference, Chelsea will need as many goals as possible.
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